July 14: The "Deal"

Taken by Elizabeth

I made a deal on Facebook with a friend from second grade: If I read Stephen King's Under the Dome, he would read the Harry Potter series. So here's my proof, Teddy: I have the book in my possession. Where are your copies of Rowling, dear?

The deal is on!

Day 53: The Book of Common Prayer 2011

Early thisd week, Father Acker received a preview copy of the Book Of Common Prayer 2011 that he revised and his wife and I edited over the last nine months or so. We spotted a few areas that needed work, and the printing company accepted all our changes. This is the exterior of the book....

...and here is a quick peep at the interior. My hands were shaking so much with excitement that I could barely focus the camera! I only took two photos--I was too busy woo-hoo'ing!!!

We hope to have the prayer books available by mid-March. :)

Day 18: Final Edits

I apologize for the boring, home-bound photos of the last few days. But I've been utterly wrapped up in editing this huge baby: a 2011 Book of Common Prayer for the Reformed Episcopal Church. We hope it will be ready to go to the printer this week, so my every non-homeschooling moment today and tomorrow will be consumed with proofing this clean new copy, hot off the press....

Only 358 pages...not too bad. (Yikes!) I'll let you know when I come up for air....

Day 16: My Kingdom for a Kindle....

I am loving my new Kindle, a Christmas gift from the family. It's so lightweight, a wonderful break for my arthritic hands.

Here I've uploaded the Oedipus Trilogy for Timothy's SMARR World Lit course. He uses the Read Aloud function to listen to the plays (Oedipus Rex and Antigone) while he reads along which really helps him to understand the plays better.

At Point Loma Preview Days

Last week Elizabeth and I attended the Preview Day for Point Loma Nazarene University--I'm an alum (1988, BA in Literature) and starting teaching there when Elizabeth was four months old. Some of the professors remember her from her baby and toddler days and both the Lit Chair and the Journalism Dean both want her to be in their departments. She's decided on Journalism for now and is very much looking forward to living on campus in August.

Elizabeth next to clock tower outside Commons

Cooper Music Building at left, looking down at Salomon Theatre

Golden Gym and Pacific Ocean

Sign for Literature Department--my old home and Elizabeth's new one as she plans to major in journalism

Main pedestrian thoroughfare at PLNU

New Theology Department

Sign in front of Study Abroad Office

View of PLNU dorms

Entrance of PLNU overlooking Pacific

Sunset at PLNU from Cooper Music Building

Writers Symposium by the Sea

Day 47: My Desk, Part 1

I've been spending a great deal of time at my desk this week. At my elbow are the books I'm currently picking up at least once per day: Uncle Tom's Cabin, which I'm reading for Logos, my 1928 Book of Common Prayer, my ESV Bible (love this translation!), my Divine Hours devotional with prayers set up for morning, midday, Vespers, and Compline, and the book I'm going through V.E.R.Y. slowly and meditatively: The Family Cloister by David Robinson, Kitty's cousin. Peeking at the bottom of the stack is my poetry journal.

Day 37: Alma Mater

The Department of Literature, Journalism, and Modern Languages at Point Loma Nazarene University where I received my BA and went back as an adjunct instructor after grad school. One of the most beautiful campuses anywhere. And one of E's top choices for college in 18 months.

Day 13: Bookshelf Above My Desk

Yes, the bookshelf Keith made and installed above my desk holds some special items. My cross from USD and my prayer candle from Sheri that I pull down when having morning prayers. My "I Love You, Mom" mini-mug that E bought me years ago. My reference Bible and reference books are on this shelf, along with dear Oswald (My Utmost for His Highest), my 1662 illuminated Book of Common Prayer, my One Year Book of Hymns, my 1979 BCP, my hymnal, and some favorite CDs. All are easily at hand, just above my head when I sit at my desk.

Logos Group Meeting

Our literary discussion group from Lake Murray met at Guy and Kitty's home for a lovely lunch and even lovelier discussion. (And if you knew how very delectable the lunch was, it's remarkable that the discussion could surpass it!) Cry, the Beloved Country is Guy's favorite novel so he led the discussion here, surrounded by Judy, Bill, and Kitty.



I had never seen Bill, our Sunday School teacher, on his bike before. He's one cool accountant and also enjoys Saturday Mass as well as teaching Sunday School at Lake Murray.

Lunch with Logos Group

Our Logos reading and discussion group met this afternoon after church to discuss Annie Dillard's profound and beautiful book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Kitty hosts our meetings with her generous hospitality, as always, and we enjoyed discussing this mystical and strange work of literature. Not everyone liked it (in fact, I think only Kitty and I did actually LIKE it), but the group did gain a real appreciation for the beauty of Dillard's writing and the reasoning behind her "pilgrimage." I'll write more about the book on my meditative blog in a day or two.



Kitty made us this gorgeous and scrumptious cheese and chicken strata for lunch. French bread layered with gruyere and other cheeses, stuffed with chicken ... so decadent and delicious....



Kitty had these beautiful red pears sitting on her coffee table this afternoon, and I loved their autumn colors and the way the light struck them in the beautiful antique bowl.

Books, Books, Books

The leaning tower o' books on the floor in front of the bookcase next to my bed. I've gotta read some of these sometime.....



And the sacred Norton Anthology shelf of said bookcase, with the tippy-top of the leaning tower just in view. All books in both photos are within arm's reach of my side of the bed and represent just a small sample of the assortment of books in our upstairs bedroom.

It's a wonder the floor hasn't collapsed yet....

My Book Stack....

Reading up on the Scrolls before seeing them in October at the San Diego Natural History Museum ... need to finish Shakespeare of London (a good read but I got sidetracked by HP this summer)... just got Brother Lawrence back after a friend from church borrowed it (would like to thumb back through) ... Loved The Shape of Sand (great summer read!) ... haven't started Gilead yet (need to get it back to Judith soon, though) ... need to finish Eugene Peterson (again sidetracked by HP -- I'm just starting the good part on Lectio Divina -- I love that a Protestant translator/preacher-dude is writing about the stuff close to my heart!).